Critics cry foul in Bush Social Security maneuver

[livvy]

Critics cry foul in Bush Social Security maneuver

By Amy Fagan
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
February 12, 2006

Opponents of President Bush's Social Security personal accounts plan were jolted into action last week when the proposal showed up in Mr. Bush's newest budget request.
Mr. Bush's proposal to allow younger workers to divert part of their Social Security payroll tax into personal investment accounts fizzled last year because of a lack of support in Congress.
>snip
But that relief quickly dissipated Monday, opponents said, when they discovered Mr. Bush's 2007 budget proposal mentioned the plan -- suggesting the accounts start in 2010 at a 10-year cost of $712 billion.
"I did not expect that," said Rep. Sander M. Levin, Michigan Democrat, who criticized the plan last week while talking to reporters. "We wanted to talk today to make sure that everybody in the country understands that this is what drives the president of the United States: privatization of Social Security."

http://www.washtimes.com/national/20060211-110038-8480r.htm

[babylonsister]

1. Trying to pull a fast one, now w/o benefit of any kind of

consensus from anyone? This asshat is getting more and more dangerous!

[dailykoff]

2. What's another $712 billion?

For that matter what's another billion-a-week ME quagmire? He's the boss!

[DemInDistress]

3. isnt there any way to stop this? back door snakeoil

just like frist and hastert did with drug maker protections against class action suits for "bad vaccines" that kill and main..this must be stopped.
Can you repost this tomorrow?

K&R

[rocktivity]

4. In case you need your memory refreshed

as to why this is a sucko idea...raising or eliminating the salary cap and eliminating the tax cuts is clerly the more sensible solution. It's really just a recess appointment like John Bolton, isn't it?

:headbang:
rocknation

[Lasher]

8. This is my favorite solution to what is actually a minor problem

Here is a good article on the subject:

http://money.cnn.com/2005/01/14/retirement/ssgame/

At the bottom of the page there is a link to a SS game, where you can try your own solutions to resolve that shortfall that is expected in 2048.

On edit: The SS game link at the bottom of the article doesn't work any more. Here is a link to the game

http://www.actuary.org/socialsecurity/

[livvy]

5. Clinton hits Bush on Social Security

Clinton hits Bush on Social Security
Updated: 2/11/2006 6:26 PM
By: Associated Press

Senator Clinton called President Bush's Social Security proposal "morally and fiscally bankrupt" because it seeks to end some payments to widows and orphans.

Clinton said the administration's budget proposal shows they are still intent on privatizing Social Security. The budget for fiscal year 2007 was submitted to Congress on Monday. It would eliminate a $255 lump-sum death benefit that has been part of Social Security for more than 50 years. It also urges Congress to cut off monthly survivor benefits to 16 and 17-year-old high school dropouts.
> one additional paragraph

http://www.capitalnews9.com/content/top_stories/default.asp?ArID=168097

[livvy]

6. Cuts in Social Security appear likely to fizzle

Cuts in Social Security appear likely to fizzle

GOP leaders not supportive of plan

February 9, 2006

WASHINGTON -- Congressional Republicans on Wednesday shunned President George W. Bush's election-year call to cut Social Security benefits, and the Senate Finance Committee chairman accused the administration of seeking to end "a pittance for widows and widowers."

"I have no plans to pursue these proposals," said Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, who leads that committee.

The budget that Bush submitted to Congress on Monday proposes eliminating a $255 lump-sum death benefit that has been part of Social Security for more than 50 years. It also urges Congress to cut off monthly survivor benefits to 16- and 17-year-old high school dropouts, which would be reinstated when they turn 18.>snip

Both Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., and House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., were quick to applaud Bush's overall budget proposals Monday, but their aides declined repeated requests over two days for comments on the president's suggested change in Social Security.>more

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060209/NEWS07/602090560/1009

[Ouabache]

14. so remove the $255 lumpsum for orphans of US servicemen

killed in Iraq. Mighty white of you, Junior!!

Send young fathers to war, put them in harm's way. Get them killed for your lies.
Then withdraw the $255 lump sum benefit their survivors get from Social Security.

How is that NOT evil?

[livvy]

7. Back door 'reform': Bush gunning for Social Security in 2007 budget

EDITORIAL

February 11, 2006

Back door 'reform'

Bush gunning for Social Security in 2007 budget

The one good thing about the sneaky business President Bush buried in his new budget proposal is that it was dead on arrival Monday in a Congress facing mid-term elections.

Not that it should take re-election worries for a majority of lawmakers to distance themselves from the president's back-door assault on Social Security. His budget includes provisions that would kick-start private accounts in 2010, shifting $700 billion of the program's revenues to pay for them through the first seven years. Including the measure is Bush's way of telling his congressional base to nudge the issue out into the open because he's locked and loaded for the kill shot.

This president makes no secret of his disdain for federal social programs. And give him credit -- when he sets his crosshairs on a target, he doesn't quit until he's made the kill (unless of course it's Osama bin Laden). In his state of the union speech a few days ago, Bush chided Congress for not taking up his plan to privatize Social Security last year, a deceitful calculation. Most Americans listening to the speech wouldn't know that he never submitted legislation for Congress to consider. In a more conciliatory tone, which seemed to acknowledge the unpopularity of his so-called reform and his intention to drop it for now, Bush called for a bipartisan commission to consider the impact of baby-boom retirees on Social Security, Medicare and other federal programs.

All the while, Josh Bolten and the president's other bean counters were back at the Office of Management and Budget stuffing his plan for voluntary private Social Security accounts into the coming year's proposal. The budget lays out costs to allow workers to redirect up to 4 percent of their earnings into the accounts, with a maximum of $1,100 a year and increasing by $100 each year through 2016. That would divert an estimated $24.2 billion the first year, more than double that the next and a total of $712.1 billion over the seven years.>more

http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/Opinion/Editorials/opnOPN42021106.htm

[Nothing Without Hope]

9. Interesting that this is reported in the Moonie Times

Usually they support Bush.

[Nothing Without Hope]

10. Earlier Newsweek report on this buried Social Security privatization scam:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x358744
thread title (2-8-06 GD): Newsweek: Bush buried Social Security privatization proposals in budget

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x359485
thread title (2-8-06 GD): Bush HIDES SOCIAL SECURITY Privatization in Budget.

[progressoid]

11. Damn, do we have to contact our Congressmen to educate them...AGAIN

[Nothing Without Hope]

12. Time for that famous 1952 Eisenhower quote:

Should any political party attempt to abolish social security, unemployment insurance, and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not hear of that party again in our political history. There is a tiny splinter group, of course, that believes that you can do these things. Among them are a few Texas oil millionaires, and an occasional politician or businessman from other areas. Their number is negligible and they are stupid."
--President Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1952

A few Texas oil millionaires are in power now, and they are proving Eisenhower right.

[sarcasmo]

13. One word describes Dictator 43, a SNAKE.

[WhiteTara]

15. sad commentary that Washington TIMES

is the lead on this story. I have only seen this once since the story surfaced last week.